The death of an alleged former American Idol contestant whose body was found near Paula Abdul's home on Tuesday night has left the star "shocked and saddened", according to her publicist.

Police found the body of a woman in a parked car in Abdul's Sherman Oaks, California neighborhood - and pronounced her dead at the scene.

The car is registered to 30-year-old Paula Goodspeed - who featured as a contestant on the U.S. reality TV series in 2006.

Reports claim the woman's parents phoned police earlier in the day to report their daughter missing, stating that she "had an unnatural obsession" with the American Idol host.

According to TMZ.com, police sources claimed the woman was an alleged Abdul stalker and that officers had been to the singer's house "numerous times before" to deal with her.

A spokesperson for Abdul tells Entertainment Tonight the star knew about the woman, who she said had "issues" for "several years".

Abdul was reportedly returned home late in the evening after investigators had cleared the scene.

A statement from the Abdul reads: "I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday. My heart and prayers go out to her family."

In a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department, officer April Harding says, "This has been ruled an apparent suicide and the coroner's office is now investigating. The body was found around 6 p.m. Tuesday."

Police have not confirmed the identity of the woman.

- Video Of Paula Goodspeed's American Idol Audition

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)